Device to replace nuclear and fossil-fuel steam supply power plants with zero CO2 and safe efficient superheated steam
The invention provides processes and apparatuses for safely, rapidly, cost-effectively producing superheated steam. These processes and apparatuses involves producing clean low-cost electricity by the long rigid power arms generator thereby operating electric-arc furnaces side by side, melting steel repeatedly and tungsten steam pipes bedded in molten steel to produce superheated steam, this method of producing steam will replace nuclear, coal and other fossil fuel method of producing steam on the steam producing side of the equation without dismantling the entire nuclear or coal fired power plants, by merely discarding the nuclear side or the coal side of the either plant altogether. The use the ocean water to produce superheated steam for turbines and the distillation will produce clean drinking water, excess power from the generator through an electrolysis process will produce oxygen for the electric-arc furnace to increase temperature for steam and hydrogen gas stored as energy.
This invention relates to power plants, and in particular steam power plants. Replacing the present nuclear method and fossil-fueled method of producing steam to turn the turbines for huge power plants to generate electricity. This application is a Continuation-In-Part of my patent application U.S. Ser. No. 13/136,012 filed Jul. 20, 2011 and the contents therein contained are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of InventionThe statements in this section merely provide a global need and background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art. A current method for operating a power plant includes nuclear, coal or other fossil-fuels steam power generator plants, both methods are of major concern, one due to radiation safety on the nuclear side and two CO2 issues on the fossil-fuel side. The present invention tackles both of these major issues around the globe head on. A nuclear radiation accident in power plants is defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency as an event that has led to significant consequences to people, the environment or the facility. Examples include lethal effects to individuals, large radioactivity release to the environment, or reactor core meltdown. The prime example of a “major nuclear accident” is one in which a reactor core is damaged and large amounts of radiation was released, such as in the Chernobyl Disaster in 1986 around the globe.
More gravely serious truths about the severity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster following the earthquake and tsunami of Mar. 11, 2011 in Japan have emerged. “Japan, the world's third-largest user of electricity behind China and the United States, had counted on an expansion of nuclear power to contain energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Instead, its nuclear program is in retreat, as the public and the government officials urge a sharp reduction in the nation's reliance on nuclear power and perhaps an end to it altogether.” Following Germany's coalition government has announced a reversal of policy that will see all the country's nuclear power plants phased out by 2022. The decision makes Germany the biggest industrial power to announce plans to give up nuclear energy including Switzerland, Italy there will be more to come to phase out nuclear and fossil-fuel around the world.
Burning coal and other fossil-fuel is a leading cause of smog, acid rain, global warming and air toxics. In an average year, a typical coal plant generates 3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) The American Lung Association (ALA) recently released a new report on the dramatic health hazards surrounding coal-fired power plants. The report, “Toxic Air: The Case For Cleaning Up Coal-Fired Power Plants,” reveals the dangers of air pollution emitted by coal plants. One of the starkest findings in the report claims, “Particle pollution from power plants is estimated to kill approximately 13,000 people a year.” Globally, power generation emits nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 per year. The U.S., with over 8,000 power plants out of the more than 50,000 worldwide, accounts for about 25 percent of that total or 2.8 billion tons CO2. Capital costs for Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plants are estimated to be 20-47% higher than traditional coal plants. In 2004, Indeck Energy Services testified before the Illinois State EPA that IGCC's “capital costs are 30% higher.” General construction costs (concrete, steel and labor) have raised 100-300% in recent years, driving up the costs of all power plants. The Department of Energy (DOE) reports that IGCC is seen as too risky for private investors, and requires large subsidies from the federal, state and local governments. In 2006, the EPA estimated that capturing 90% of CO2 emissions from IGCC plants would increase capital costs 47%; and the total cost of electricity 38%. “Capture” does not include transportation of gas or storage. Compression costs have been estimated at $17/ton CO2, so a 600 MW plant emitting 4-5 million tons/year of CO2 would cost approximately $68-85,000,000/year just for compression.
In the present invention of producing clean safe superheated steam to run existing power plants is been addressed, both issues, the nuclear radiation safety and the fossil-fuel pollution CO2, furthermore these plants can use the ocean water to produce steam and upon condensation and distillation of steam to clean drinking water, with excess electricity, hydrogen can be produced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn the present invention the initial clean electricity of 8 MW to 10 MW on the long rigid power arm generator method to produce steam to decommission the nuclear side of the power plant and coal fired side of the power plant by a conventional electric-arc steelmaking furnaces, direct arc type where the current passes through electrodes, across the arc created between the foot of the electrodes and the molten metal and thick tungsten steam pipes below the molten metal and across another arc to adjacent electrodes. The electric-arc provides a very intense source of high temp heat (as high as 6300 degrees F. for carbon arc.) that would bring the surface of the tungsten steam pipes to cherry red to produce superheat steam in these pipes as the preheated water/steam flow through the furnace and turn the steam turbines to generate electricity.
To generate the initial electricity for this present invention is to refer to the patent U.S. Ser. No. 13/136,012, where there are several long rigid power arms on a shaft and the shaft is attached to the gearbox whereby the generator. The long rigid power arms on the generator are ratcheted and reciprocated to turn the gearbox at low rpm whereby generator to generate the required energy to operate the electric-arc smelter to produce steam. As the long rigid power arms ratcheted reciprocated with an aid of a one-way clutch, ratchet mechanism on the gearbox shaft. There are several key improvement on this invention is included in the present invention to accommodate this present invention as shown in drawings.
The one-way clutch (ratchet action) of large heavy duty capacity that requires hi torque on low rpm on large diameters shaft by a new and improved method is included in this invention. One-way clutch systems permitting, for low rpm, a driven member to be positively driven by a driving member in one direction only, being capable of free-wheeling or over-run relative to the driven member. When not in driven engagement with the driving member. Conventional frictional one-way clutches have therefore inherent limitation in torque transmittal capacities, which depend on the frictional effect of the surfaces in contact, diameter, in life due to wear, and in the permissible relative speeds of rotation during free-wheeling and over-run. The present invention remedies the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art by providing several different type of one way clutch apparatus that could be used, any one type or combination be fixed on a common shaft to turn the gearbox whereby the generator to perform the so called one-way clutch action where a driven member to be positively driven by a driving member in one direction only, being capable of free-wheeling or over-run relative to the driven member and maintaining the hi torque of 1,000,000 ft-lb of torque and higher required to positively drive the driven member without fail for low rpm as 2 to 12 rpm situations. There are several methods used in this present invention to achieve low rpm and hi torque of a driven member to be positively driven by a driving member in one direction only, being capable of free-wheeling or over-run relative to the driven member when not in driven engagement with the driving member. The low rpm and hi torque one-way clutch mechanism in first method, ranging from 40,000 ft-lb to 950,000 ft-lb plus of torque and the second method from 950,000 ft-lb of torque to 3,500,000 ft-lb and greater as required, the
The first one-way clutch method, low rpm and hi-torque one-way clutch mechanism ranging from 40,000 ft-lb to 950,000 ft-lb is achieved by using in the present invention, for example a 15 inch broad auto tire and high strength steel rim and/or two of the 17 inch brake disc attached to the gearbox shaft, the long rigid power arm at one end of this arm is attached with a thick steel rigid metal band and 2 brake disc calipers for each disc rotor is fixed the arm, as shown in
The electric-arc steelmaking furnaces are implemented in the present invention to produce superheated steam to turn the turbine generators. In the electric-arc furnaces, the electric current passes through electrodes, across the arc created between the foot of the electrodes and the metal bath, then through metal bath and up across another arc to the adjacent electrodes. Just below the metal bath is rows of thick tungsten tubes of water/stream been pump through the tubes creating superheated steam. The electric-arc provides a very intense source of high temperature heat (6300 degrees F. form carbon arc), heat being radiated from along the length of the arc and generated at the interfaces of arc/metal and arc/electrode. These locations of high temperature referred to herein as the “arc flare zone”. The arc constitute a variable resistance in the circuit which can be altered by raising or lowering the electrodes to change the arc length and temperature, furthermore oxygen and blend of air mix is injected in the smelter to increase temperature that's regulating the superheated steam quality to supply the turbine generator to generate electricity, thus easily obtaining pressures of 2400 psig to 3500 psig at temperatures around 1000 degrees F. production of steam can be maintained, for increase demand of steam can be met by additional smelter units.
The present invention can be implemented on a new power generating plants similar to the existing ones without the nuclear safety issues, and fossil fuel CO2 issues. There are many other positive outcome in implementing this invention, such as; producing clean drinking water from the ocean waters distillation process, irrigation of desert land, use of minerals from distillation of ocean salt water, produce hydrogen from excess electrical power generated during off peak hours of the day at every gas (petrol) station to power automobiles with hydrogen fuel without an extensive modification to existing motor vehicle, hydrogen as jet fuel without CO2 pollution for aircraft.
The invention will be further described in detail with reference to the drawings;
Referring to the drawings, the gravity force on the present invention for generating electricity is illustrated in the
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Although this invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Moreover, to those skill in the various arts, the invention itself herein will suggest solutions to other tasks and adaptations for other applications. Thus, the embodiments of the invention described herein should be considered in all respects as illustrative and nor restrictive, the scope of the invention to determined by the appended claims and their equivalent rather than foregoing description.
Claims
1. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam and to discontinue the use of current nuclear side of the electric power generating plants and also discontinue the use of current fossil fuel side of the electric power generating plants to produce said superheated steam, by using a method used for electric-arc smelting steel to produce superheated steam, in the present invention the initial electricity needed to operate the electric-arc smelting furnace to produce superheated steam is achieved by references cited patent U.S. Ser. No. 13/136,012 and with certain improvement and modification on the said invention as shown in drawings.
2. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, as many as required per design the long rigid ratcheting and reciprocating power arms 6 with extension platform 5 with lead weights as shown in FIG. 2 to overcome the torque required to turn the generator's required rpm of the said invention, upon downward reciprocating applied torque from the generator on the long rigid power arms is further overcome by increasing the mass weight by extending the arms with lead weights on the long rigid power arm, thus increasing gravitational pressure to the long rigid arms overall.
3. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, upon the upward motion of the long rigid arms 6 in FIG. 1 on the upright sprocket gear 2 and chain 1 frame mechanism, the long rigid power arm with lead weights is retracted by a conveyor type mechanism 10, thus the rear heavier 1000 lb lead weight as in this case is retracted pass the pivoted point 9 of the gearbox shaft, additionally the said weight is further pushed back a short distance by a linear roller type ball screw driver and/or sprocket and roller chain conveyor type apparatus and/or air/hydraulic cylinder 13 thus as the weight of the arm towards the front is reduced drastically by the heavier rear lead weight load is retracted causing the lighter load in front become lighter to lift.
4. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, FIG. 4 for electromagnetic suspension (EMS), electronically controlled electromagnets in that the load attract it to a magnetically conductive (usually steel) track and electro-dynamic suspension (EDS) uses permanent magnets which create a magnetic field that induces currents in nearby metallic conductors when there is relative movement which pushes the load away so called magnetic levitation on the rail, the repulsive force in the track is created by an induced magnetic field 3 in wires or other conducting strips in the track, where the long rigid power arm swings as it's ratcheting and reciprocating as in this case caused by magnets moving the 1000 lb weights combine as one unit from side to side to create gravitation force on both side of the swing and the one way clutch apparatus along with the magnetic propulsion coils are controlled and regulated by micro-processor, thus the required rpm is maintained to the generator.
5. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, the control of the long rigid ratcheting and reciprocating power arms can be achieved by several method such as hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, roller type ball screw, controlled by micro processor, as in this case by a sprocket gears and roller chain mechanism in a frame as shown in FIG. 3, the sprocket gears in this frame are of identical in size to maintain the timing of the long rigid power arms to ratchet and reciprocate the power arms to maintain a continuous rotation as a one way clutch action of the input gearbox shaft whereby maintain required rpm for the generator designed frequency, the side view in FIG. 3 as in this case shows the number of long rigid power arms that are going upward and the number of long rigid arms going downward as to cause a continuous rotation of the gearbox shaft and to share the torque required to turn the generator equally, thus these roller chains play a vital role to evenly space the upward and the downward motion of each long rigid power arms separately and to continuously cause the long rigid power arms to reciprocate by following the chain's circular motion around the top sprocket gears and the bottoms sprocket gear on a specific location on the roller chain by linear bearing pillar block and motion system thus causing the attachment of the rigid power arm to the roller chain as it move back and forth, up and down while been attached to the chain on the sprocket gear and roller chain frame at specific location on the chain.
6. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, a new use of the existing technologies, large auto and truck tires, rims and braking system as a large super high torque, one-way clutch apparatus as shown in FIG. 6a-6b car tire, rim and/or disc rotor, calipers for smaller generators and FIG. 5a-5b truck tires, rim and brake drums and braking mechanism as a one-way clutch apparatus for larger generators, the said apparatus can be fabricated to any size, is fixed to the gearbox shaft at the generator end of the long rigid power arm, a large thick rigid stainless steel band attached to the said rigid power arm, which is wrapped around the tires with “Z” type pawl spring loaded to metal strip device attached around the inner side of the thick rigid steel band between the tire and the steel band to lock in one direction, together with the brake mechanism operated and controlled mechanically and/or microchip-processor, so as to combine as one unit of the said long rigid power arm, thus causing ratchet reciprocating action as one-way clutch (slip-grip action) of the said long rigid power arms whereby causing a continuous rotation of the gearbox shaft for small KW generators or large MW generator units.
7. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, a one way clutch action apparatus shown in FIG. 7, using two sprocket gears 1 of same size separated apart on a frame and at midpoint of the frame the long rigid arm 7 is pivoted by “T” junction 6 where two short extension with jaws to the chain 2 are attached with metal binders in form of two jaws 3 binds and pull roller chain 2 in one direction and release the chain in opposite direction (slip-grip action) of the long rigid power arm thus causing to turn the sprocket 1 in one direction, the long rigid arm 7 is operated horizontally by a pneumatic/hydraulic cylinder 4 repeatedly controlled by micro-processor thus turning gearbox shaft 5.
8. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, FIG. 8 with methods of mechanical ratchet causing a continuous rotation of the gearbox shaft whereby the generator, as the long rigid power arms 5 reciprocate one end of the arm attached to clutches and steel plates 4 in a sleeve around the gearbox shaft 1 where multiple clutch and steel plates 4 are applied and released in a drum 2 fixed to the gearbox shaft or vise versa repeatedly either hydraulically or pneumatically to lock in one direction and release in the other direction causing (slip-grip action) a continuous rotation on the gearbox shaft at low rpm.
9. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, FIG. 9 there is illustrated of electric-arc furnace, electricity is provided from the long rigid power arm generators to the carbon arc electrodes 1 and electric-arcs are formed between the electrodes and/or between the electrodes and the metal. The resulting heat serves to melt the metal thus forming a molten metal 5 bath within the electric-arc furnace. The metal is melted over and over repeatedly to maintain the high temperature for extended period of time continuously been cooled by thick tungsten pipes 9, where the heat transfer from molten metal to the water/steam pipes 7 takes place. Oxygen is provided into the molten metal bath in gaseous form through lance 6, and air through 10, the reaction of oxygen with molten metal bath to provide additional heat to the furnace, thus maintaining the flow of superheat in the tungsten steam pipes 9, the ocean water pipes at 2 are wrapped to the inner wall of the smelter's exhaust system 11 to preheat to 200 degrees F. and higher to collect the minerals at 8 from the ocean water before entering the furnace, thus superheated steam is produced efficiently, continuously to supply the turbine generator to produce electricity for the grid.
10. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, as the ocean water is converted to superheated steam by the electric-arc smelting furnace and is processed through the turbine generator to produce electrical power, thereafter low pressure steam is reheated, reused, then converted to clean drinking water through condensation and distillation.
11. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, this entire operation of controlling the reciprocating of the long rigid power arms, the sliding of the platform with heavy lead weights, long swinging arms can be operated with DC power with rechargeable storage batteries and/or direct AC power.
12. A method and the apparatus of the present invention of continuously producing superheated steam which comprises of claim 1, any one or a combination thereof or multiple units of the so called one way clutch apparatus (sprag bearing, ratchet action mechanism) slip-grip action described in the present invention can be implemented to the long rigid power arm to turn the gearbox shaft whereby the generator continuously.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 24, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 24, 2013
Inventor: Arvind A. Daya (Fayetteville, GA)
Application Number: 13/317,620
International Classification: H02K 7/10 (20060101); F22G 3/00 (20060101); H02K 7/18 (20060101);